Marion A. Parrott
Encyclopedia
Marion Arendell Parrott was an American
lawyer
.
, and a first cousin to George Parrott
. Parrott graduated in 1839 from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, and then from the University of North Carolina School of Law
. He served during World War II
as a paratrooper with the United States Army
101st Airborne Division
. He took part in the Battle of Normandy
early on June 6, 1944 (D-Day). Two weeks later, he was captured in northern France, and imprisoned in Szubin
, Poland
. On Christmas 1944, he escaped from the prison camp made his way to Russia. From there he returned to his unit in France and took part in the final advance into Germany at war’s end, at which point he was discharged as a Major.
, where he was chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments, and one of the founders of Arendell Parrott Academy
, which was named for his son who died in 1961, and served as its first president. He also served as a director of the controversial Pioneer Fund
from 1973 to 2000. In a recent history of the press coverage of the U.S. civil rights movement, Parrott is described as a "white supremacist who wanted to mount a challenge to the Daniels family's Raleigh News & Observer." He was unsuccessful in convincing Tom Waring, another segrationist and a South Carolina journalist, to found a competing newspaper.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
.
Early years and wartime activities
Marion Arendell Parrott was the second son of William Thomas and Jeanette Johnson Parrott from Kinston, North CarolinaKinston, North Carolina
Kinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 23,688 at the 2000 census. The population was estimated at 22,360 in 2008. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791 . Kinston is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks...
, and a first cousin to George Parrott
George Parrott
George Fountain Parrott was an officer in the United States Navy during World War I.-Biography:Born at Falling Creek, Lenoir County, North Carolina, George Fountain Parrott was the 3rd of 7 children born to George Franklin and Julia Bizzell Parrott, and was first cousin to Marion A. Parrott...
. Parrott graduated in 1839 from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, and then from the University of North Carolina School of Law
University of North Carolina School of Law
The University of North Carolina School of Law is a professional school within the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Established in 1845, Carolina Law is among the oldest law schools in the nation and is the oldest law school in North Carolina. It is consistently ranked in the top-tier...
. He served during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a paratrooper with the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
. He took part in the Battle of Normandy
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
early on June 6, 1944 (D-Day). Two weeks later, he was captured in northern France, and imprisoned in Szubin
Szubin
Szubin is a town in Nakło County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, located southwest of Bydgoszcz. As of 12 December 2004 it had a population of 9354.-History:...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. On Christmas 1944, he escaped from the prison camp made his way to Russia. From there he returned to his unit in France and took part in the final advance into Germany at war’s end, at which point he was discharged as a Major.
Career
Parrott was a former member of the North Carolina General AssemblyNorth Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
, where he was chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments, and one of the founders of Arendell Parrott Academy
Arendell Parrott Academy
Arendell Parrott Academy is a non-sectarian private school located in Kinston, North Carolina for grades K-12.- History :The idea for this nonsectarian school was first envisioned by Marian Parrott in 1955, a former member of the N.C. General Assembly and a local attorney. In 1964 Mr...
, which was named for his son who died in 1961, and served as its first president. He also served as a director of the controversial Pioneer Fund
Pioneer Fund
The Pioneer Fund is an American non-profit foundation established in 1937 "to advance the scientific study of heredity and human differences." Currently headed by psychology professor J. Philippe Rushton, the fund states that it focuses on projects it perceives will not be easily funded due to...
from 1973 to 2000. In a recent history of the press coverage of the U.S. civil rights movement, Parrott is described as a "white supremacist who wanted to mount a challenge to the Daniels family's Raleigh News & Observer." He was unsuccessful in convincing Tom Waring, another segrationist and a South Carolina journalist, to found a competing newspaper.